McLaren X-1 mystery machine

Secret owner orders one-off supercar based on the 12C.

20 August 2012Chris Harris

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event. Photo:

McLaren?s $500,000 12C supercar is no Toyota Camry in the exclusivity stakes, but that hasn?t stopped one anonymous customer from taking individuality to the extreme.

Unveiled during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the US, the one-off McLaren X-1 is based on the Ferrari-fighting MP4-12C, but boasts a unique, carbon fibre body that?s sure to split opinion at the exclusive event.

The car was designed and built by the British sports car brand?s bespoke projects team, McLaren Special Operations (MSO), which typically handles colour and trim combinations, but rarely complete cars.

With only its glasshouse and scissor doors visually shared with the 12C, the McLaren X-1?s most unusual styling feature is the enclosed rear wheels, an upshot of the owner?s desire to have a car reflecting ?timeless elegance?. The wheels are accessed by carbon panels.

The X-1 also shares most mechanical components with the 12C, including its 441kW 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, mounted behind the cabin.

The McLaren X-1 took 18 months to design and two and a half years to build, requiring several bespoke items down to the lights and wheels. It also had to be a usable, road legal car and capable of travelling at supercar speeds.

After its show debut, the X-1 will return to McLaren?s headquarters in the UK to be checked over before being handed over to its secret owner.